Did you witness the rather magnificent costume designer, Sandy Powell, wear a toile to the BAFTA awards? She’s raising money for Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage, the home of his creativity. The plan was to persuade famous attendees to sign her toile, and auction it off.
Her plan worked! The Instagram photos were amazing.
But maybe you don’t have chance to sew a toile in order to have it signed by A-list stars. What are your other reasons to make a toile (muslin in US vocabulary).
A toile is a first, cold run in the construction of your project – sometimes in calico, but other times in a fabric similair to your chosen final fabric.
I’ve sewn a few in the past. The main reasons are to:
- Choose and test a pattern size
- Check and adjust fit
- Practise construction
- Make notes – I love scribbling on fabric
- Understand fabric drape. I often sew a toile from similair fabric to my intended fabric of choice
Once you’ve tested your make, you can transfer adjustments to the pattern pieces and sew an outfit that:
- Fits your body
- Suits your taste
- Is easy to construct
- Doesn’t waste time and effort
- Lives up to your vision
- Makes you feel smug!
Of course, there are always the quick and dirty sewing projects that you can’t resist whipping up. That’s part of the fun, too!
But sometimes life needs a toile. Especially, if you’re meeting stars.
 
I make a toile if I am unfamiliar with the patternmaker’s block, I am using expensive fabric, or if the pattern is very fitted. It’s usually worth while.
Yes! This 👆
I made my first toile for adjusting the Vogue 9253 dress – the one with the now not so low V. It worked a charm & I danced the night away without any nipple flashing wardrobe malfunctions! So it was definitely worth it (SUCCESS) but I feel so…wasteful. All that fabric bound for the ocean. Sigh…(I’ve made wearable toiles in the past, but that didn’t work in this project.)
If one uses a natural fabric, then the waste is not so bad — though it is something I have concern about as well. If it is a natural fiber, at least it is going to decompose at some point. It is also possible to reuse any bits of fabric, recutting them for another toile, or to stuff a pillow, dress form or something.
That was fun!
Personally, I don’t do it all the time, but I have never regretted making a muslin/toile when I have. It’s always worth the time and effort.
I’ve just finished a wearable toile.
I love making toiles. I never get as far as facings or finishing, it’s all raw edges and seams. Fitted inside out. I learned to fit by “toiling” on people, a sort of hybrid of pattern and drape. It’s funny how when one becomes an experienced sewist, one wants to slow right down and enjoy the process.
I hate making toiles. It is so NOT fun to do. It takes up way too much time, time that could be spend with lovely fabric that is a joy to sew. Yes, I sometimes end up with projects that don’t have a perfect fit. But I give these away. And I use patterns that do fit me several times.